The double sandstorm had appeared — and moreover, it came from both a Mega Tyranitar and an Advanced Elite Four-level Gengar.
Together, the opposing Pelipper didn't stand a chance.
After only a few seconds of struggle, it completely lost control over the weather.
Amber's expression changed drastically; he hadn't expected the counterattack on the weather to happen so fast.
"Shelly!" Amber shouted toward his companion. Now that the rain had been suppressed, she was his only hope.
It was the second time he had called for her help, but Shelly remained motionless, showing no reaction.
Seeing her apathy made Amber's face darken. He was about to yell at her again, but then he remembered how she had tried to stop Archie from summoning Kyogre earlier— and suddenly, everything became clear.
However, while Amber fumed, Cain didn't stop issuing commands.
"Blaziken!" Cain called out.
The Pokémon understood instantly. It began to move in rhythmic leaps, and from its body burst flames that grew stronger and stronger.
The fire intensified — from red to yellow, then to gold, flickering with crimson light.
In an instant, the air around it heated up violently. The water vapor created by the rain and the Water-type Pokémon began to evaporate rapidly under Blaziken's blazing heat.
The droplets and moisture clinging to the grains of sand controlled by Tyranitar also evaporated. Whenever the streams of sand passed near Blaziken's fire, they were completely dried.
The control over the sand became smoother, more precise.
The air inside the alternate space began to dry. With weather dominance secured, the entire environment now leaned toward the sandstorm.
In addition to Blaziken's scorching heat, Florges caused plants to bloom, absorbing the remaining humidity from the air, while Slowking helped clear the lingering vapor. Aggron, though unable to control the weather like Tyranitar, contributed its Rock-type power to fortify the storm.
In just a short time, the entire space had transformed completely.
Cain watched the scene with a widening smile.
As someone deeply familiar with rain teams, how could he not have anticipated the natural advantage they held over sandstorms?
And if he knew, of course he had a plan.
A double sandstorm to secure the weather; Blaziken's searing flames; the support of Florges, Slowking, and Aggron.
Amber's expression turned grim. His single-core team had lost its foundation, while Cain's formation remained perfectly stable with a dual core. How could he possibly keep fighting like this?
Even if his Pokémon had a type advantage, against a dual-core formation, that advantage was practically meaningless.
But Cain still didn't attack. He waited.
He was waiting for Shelly's decision.
A few moments passed. Then, Shelly lifted her head. The confusion on her face had vanished.
She looked at Amber, who was still struggling helplessly against the storm, and began to walk steadily toward Cain.
He watched her approach. "Well? Have you decided?"
Shelly stared at him silently for ten seconds, then nodded slightly. A spark of respect shone in her eyes.
She dropped to one knee and declared firmly, "I wish to follow in Lord Cain's footsteps!"
She didn't know his true purpose, nor why someone like him wanted her as a subordinate. But deep in her heart, she held an unshakable conviction — Cain was no ordinary man.
If he could foresee everything that had happened, it meant his power surpassed even Archie's.
Besides, within her mind still lingered the psychic seed Cain had implanted — she knew she had no other choice.
Cling!
Amber stood frozen at the sight. The dagger slipped from his hand as he pointed at Cain and Shelly, unable to utter a single word.
Cain nodded, and with his psychic power, helped her rise to her feet. "Good."
Just one word, yet it was enough to acknowledge her loyalty.
Ever since Cain had seen Shelly within Celebi's space and learned her story, he had already decided: she was to become his subordinate.
Because, in Cain's eyes, Shelly was the only one among the Team Aqua executives who hadn't completely lost her humanity.
Cain's subordinates — or more precisely, those under his control — all shared one common trait: they still retained a trace of humanity, a moral boundary they would not cross.
To Cain, forming an underground organization was acceptable...
But even in darkness, there had to be a line.
Those who lost it completely ceased to be human.
From Rose, to Alva, who still sought his purpose; from Erick, who lived in self-doubt and reflection, to Shelly, who dared to question Archie — they all shared that same essence.
Even Lysandre, not exactly his subordinate but still his ally, had created Team Flare after recognizing the hypocrisy and distortion of the Pokémon world.
Cain had merely given him a slight push, helping him understand himself and define what he truly desired.
All of them had faced the deepest, most twisted darkness of the Pokémon world head-on.
And what Cain had done... was simply to set them free.
Born in the light, grown in the darkness.
To understand the darkness, one must first become one with it.
As Cain's power grew, so too did his network of influence. He wasn't seeking to overthrow the League or to become a crime boss like Giovanni.
He only wished to give those living in the shadows a way to protect themselves... and above all, to ensure that he had the strength to protect them himself.
Shelly stood up and respectfully took her place behind Cain.
Amber watched them, stunned.
But soon he snapped out of it, pointing at Shelly and shouting furiously, "Shelly! I can't believe you'd betray Team Aqua — betray Boss Archie! Do you even know who the man you're following really is?"
"Oh? Then tell me — who am I?" Cain asked with a sly smile.
Amber wanted to say he was a member of the League, an Elite Four, but the words stuck in his throat.
Someone who could make Shelly kneel and swear loyalty to him... could he really be just that?
"Who are you really?" Amber finally asked, trembling.
Cain smiled. "When you defeat me, I'll tell you. Tyranitar — Precipice Blades!"
In an instant, the Pokémon unleashed a devastating attack, charging at the enemy.
Could a rain team without rain ever hope to stand against Cain?
(End of Chapter)